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A LOYAL worker who rose through the ranks in the servicing department of a Sunderland Volkswagen dealer has retired after 53 years.

Service advisor Dave Green, 68, has decided to leave Pulman Volkswagen after over five decades, as he has a fourth grandchild on the way.

Green was just 15 when he joined the company – then known as Mill Garages – as a workshop apprentice. Aside from a brief spell at Wearside Audi when the four-ringed marque was moved to a separate site, he has spent his entire adult life working for the dealership.

During his time at the business, he has also worked as a mechanic before moving to his current role.

Green told the Sunderland Echo: ‘It’s the people I’ll miss most. Some of the salesmen I worked with have gone on to run their own dealerships, some of the biggest around, and I’ve had a great time working with them.’

Commenting on the generosity of his co-workers, he said: ‘I’ve been given bottles of wine and one of the heads of Volkswagen has even sent me a bottle of champagne. I’ve got enough drink to last a lifetime.’

Chris Slater, head of communications at Pulman, added: ‘[The group] took control of this site 10 years ago and Dave has seen a lot of changes during his time here but always had a smile on his face. The customers love him and for all we are in a digital environment now, there is still the need for that human interaction and personal touch that people like him bring.’